Roma vs Liverpool - Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: 2 May 2018 - Kick-off Time: 19:45 BST - 20:45 CET
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Roma
AS Roma team are chasing a 5-2 deficit from the first leg and
will now be relying on the cauldron of the Olimpico to try and put some
pressure on the travelling Reds. They must repeat their Barcelona
heroics in the previous round, as they beat the Catalans 3-0 at home
after a 4-1 away defeat in the first leg. The Giallorossi have won 4
from 5 UCL games at home this season, keeping a clean sheet
in each of these matches. They secured a 4-1 victory over Chievo over
the weekend with El Shaarawy, Dzeko and Schick all on the scoresheet.
The result keeps Roma in third place level on points with Lazio. Eusebio
Di Francesco's men have conceded in 8 of their last 9 league games at
home.
Kevin Strootman and Diego Perotti are serious doubts for
Roma after picking up knocks at Anfield. As a result, Lorenzo Pellegrini
should join Radja Nainggolan and Daniele De Rossi in te middle of the
park. Manager Di Francesco is likely to revert to a 4-3-3 starting
system. In defense, Juan Jesus will be dropped on bench with Federico
Fazio and Kostas Manolas playing as centre backs, Aleksandr Kolarov and
Alessandro Florenzi retaining their berth as full backs. Up front, Edin
Dzeko will spearhead the attack, probabli flanked by Stephan El Shaarawy
and Patrick Schick. The likes of Gregoire Defrel and Rick Karsdorp
remain sidelined.
After a thrilling 5-2 success over AS Roma last week, Liverpool
are now unbeaten in 15 UCL fixtures and have scored at
least two goals in eight of their last nine matches in the tournament.
In the previous round they knocked Manchester City out with a 5-1 aggregate
scoreline, winning both legs (3-0 at home, 2-1 at Etihad). Their counter
attacks have already proven to be lethal when their opponents need to
overcome a deficit. Anyway, the Reds struggled to find a way past Stoke
City at Anfield having drawn 0-0 last weekend. That was their second
draw in a row having recorded a stalemate at WBA a week before.
Chamberlain suffered a season-ending injury in the first leg and
is expected to be replaced in midfield by Georginio Wijnaldum. With
Emre Can and Adam Lallana still out through injury, James Milner and
Jordan Henderson will retain their starting berth in the middle of the
park. Andrew Robertson should come back in at left back, with Trent
Alexander-Arnold shaking off a knock to start on the other flank,
leaving Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren in the heart of the backline.
Joel Matip is a long-term injury. Up front, Sadio Mane should come back
to start alongside Roberto Firmino and Salah in a three-man forward
line.
Roma last 5 matches:
15/04/18 Lazio 0 – 0 Roma
18/04/18 Roma 2 – 1 Genoa
21/04/18 SPAL 0 – 3 Roma
24/04/18 Liverpool 5 – 2 Roma
28/04/18 Roma 4 – 1 Chievo
Liverpool last 5 matches:
10/04/18 Manchester City 1 – 2 Liverpool
14/04/18 Liverpool 3 – 0 Bournemouth
21/04/18 West Brom 2 – 2 Liverpool
24/04/18 Liverpool 5 – 2 Roma
28/04/18 Liverpool 0 – 0 Stoke City
Probable lineups:
AS Roma: Alisson – Florenzi, Fazio, Manolas, Kolarov – Strootman, de Rossi, Nainggolan – Schick, Perotti, Dzeko
Liverpool: Karius – Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson – Milner, J. Henderson, Wijnaldum – M. Salah, Firmino, Mane.